Barack Obama has announced that he will change the Democratic Party's (DNC's) fundraising policy as of today, to prohibit accepting contributions from federal lobbyists and political action committees (PACs). What's more, he's indicated that all of his fundraising events will be open to at least one pool reporter. Both moves are in stark contrast to the status quo in both parties.
http://www.politico.com/...
This sounds like a major change of how Washington works. And he's not even President yet!
Update below the fold!
Update x1: Wow!! My first Diary and it got on the Rec list! Thanks people. You are a major reason I still have faith in democracy and the progressive movement.
Sorry about the lack of detail. Here's more detail that TennesseeGurl posted in one of the comments below:
Mr. Obama is announcing today that the D.N.C. will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists or political action committees, which follows the rules he established for his own campaign last year.
"We want the Democratic Party to conform to his standards of openness to reduce the influence of special interests," Linda Douglass, a campaign spokeswoman, told reporters today before Mr. Obama flew from New York City for a campaign stop in Virginia.
NY Times
Obama also is expected to overhaul the DNC staff in coming weeks, including by dispatching one of his senior strategists, Paul Tewes, to run the organization
Washington Post
Three cheers for change
BTW, its time we start donating to the DNC
Donate here
www.democrats.org/
UPDATE x2: Here's the text on the contribution page (yes, I just donated a little from my pittance as a graduate student):
Check this box to confirm that the following statements are true and accurate: 1) I am a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien. 2) This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank. 3) This contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor. 4) This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action committee. 5) This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent. 6) The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.
Welcome to a new American political reality. Bravo Obama.
UPDATE x3 (Thanks Bugsby!)
Obama is NOT replacing Dean!
From Washington Post
"Senator Obama appreciates the hard work that Chairman Dean has done to grow our party at the grassroots level and looks forward to working with him as the chairman of the Democratic Party as we go forward," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton in a statement.
Although Obama is keeping Dean, he is also ensuring that one of the main pillars of his campaign is installed at the DNC. Paul Tewes, a longtime party operative who managed Obama's Iowa caucus effort, will take over the general-election strategy at the DNC, according to several officials briefed on the decision.
"The 50 State Strategy is Hot." - Paris
UPDATE x4 (Thanks blksista!)
This, unfortunately, does not seem to include the DCCC
DCCC won’t follow DNC's K Street ban
Politico
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will not follow Barack Obama’s lead when it comes to accepting campaign contributions from registered lobbyists, DCCC spokesman Doug Thornell says.
Obama has banned lobbyists from contributing to the Democratic National Committee.
Asked if the DCCC would follow suit, Thornell writes in an e-mail: "No. Campaign contributions to committees are transparent. House Democrats passed a historic ethics bill and Chairman Van Hollen fought for full disclosure of bundled contributions."